Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Poland withdraws from international anti-landmine treaty amid heightened Russian threat
Notes from Poland ^ | 25th July 2025

Posted on 07/26/2025 10:57:20 PM PDT by Cronos

Polish President Andrzej Duda has signed into law a bill formally withdrawing the country from the Ottawa Treaty, which bans the use of anti-personnel landmines, citing deteriorating regional security and increasing threats from Russia.

The decision aligns Poland with several of its neighbours, including the three Baltic states – Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – and Finland, which have also taken steps to exit the treaty in recent months.

Asked about the decision in late June, Duda described it as a “rational step” in light of the “deteriorating security situation” linked in part to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The bill was passed last week by the Senate, the upper house of Poland’s parliament, without any changes to the version approved in June by the more powerful lower house, the Sejm.

Defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz has long described the bill as essential for national security and called Duda’s signing of it “a decision of great importance”.

“In view of the threats on NATO’s eastern flank, we must have all the tools necessary to defend our borders,” Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote in a post on X. “The security of Poland and Poles is paramount. The borders of the Republic of Poland must be inviolable.”

The use of landmines is controversial because they are indiscriminate weapons and can remain in place long after a conflict has finished, meaning they often end up harming civilians.

Poland ratified the Ottawa Treaty in 2012 and, over the following three years, destroyed all of its anti-personnel mines – over one million in total.

However, in March this year, Poland and the three Baltic states announced plans to withdraw from the treaty, arguing that they need to “send a clear message: our countries are prepared and can use every necessary measure to defend our territory and freedom”.

The countries, however, reiterated their commitment to “international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians during an armed conflict”, despite their decision.

In June, Finland’s parliament voted by a large margin to pull out of the treaty, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also signed a decree formalising his country’s withdrawal.

Currently, over 160 countries have agreed to the terms of the treaty; among those who have not are Russia, China, India and the United States. Russia continues to use anti-personnel mines in its war against Ukraine.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Poland has embarked on an unprecedented military spending spree. It has increased its defence budget to 4.7% of GDP this year, by far the highest relative level in NATO.

Last year, the Polish government unveiled plans for the “Eastern Shield”, a major fortification of Poland’s borders with Belarus and Russia that would potentially include the arming of minefields. The plans are being coordinated with the three Baltic states.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Russia; Ukraine
KEYWORDS: andrzejduda; chanceofheavymugasms; finland; poland; putinthewarpig; russiankeywordtroll; russiansuicide; stepanbandera; tempusmaximus; vladtheimploder

Click here: to donate by Credit Card

Or here: to donate by PayPal

Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794

Thank you very much and God bless you.


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-25 next last

1 posted on 07/26/2025 10:57:20 PM PDT by Cronos
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Cronos

You could start being good guys and give the stolen lands back to Germany.


2 posted on 07/27/2025 12:20:52 AM PDT by rxh4n1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cronos

Russia.....ooooga boooga!


3 posted on 07/27/2025 12:26:40 AM PDT by Right Brother (I don't really care Margaret.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cronos

Globalist Tusk adding to fake threat from Russia to justify its intervention in the Ukraine war.


4 posted on 07/27/2025 12:59:38 AM PDT by Socon-Econ (adi)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cronos

Russia! Russia!


5 posted on 07/27/2025 1:52:00 AM PDT by JonPreston ( ✌ ☮️ )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cronos

Team Poland


6 posted on 07/27/2025 3:40:00 AM PDT by rrrod (6)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cronos

https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/poland-energy-sector#:~:text=As%20much%20as%2037%25%20came,stopped%20importing%20coal%20from%20Russia.

Poland needs its head examined.

And, BTW, it’s still importing Russian coal.


7 posted on 07/27/2025 3:51:48 AM PDT by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Socon-Econ
fake threat from Russia

Sure, Finland dropped 75 year neutrality agreement with Russia and quickly joined NATO because of a "fake threat from Russia", and not because Putin has gone rogue, by breaking numerous international treaties when he invaded Ukraine.

8 posted on 07/27/2025 4:38:33 AM PDT by tlozo (“We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth,” Trump)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: tlozo
Sure, Finland dropped 75 year neutrality agreement with Russia and quickly joined NATO because of a "fake threat from Russia", and not because Putin has gone rogue, by breaking numerous international treaties when he invaded Ukraine.

While you fantasize of Russian divisions sweeping across Europe, the real invasion of Europe is happening under your nose and you have no problem with it. Trump is right. Immigration is wrecking Europe. And history will prove Trump is right.


9 posted on 07/27/2025 5:35:02 AM PDT by Right_Wing_Madman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: rxh4n1

I hear that Andrzej Duda has a shrine to Stepan Bandera in his bedroom.


10 posted on 07/27/2025 5:45:23 AM PDT by kiryandil (No one in AZ that voted for Trump voted for Gallego )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: kiryandil

fake threat from Russia
..........
Sure, Finland dropped 75 year neutrality agreement with Russia and quickly joined NATO because of a “fake threat from Russia”, and not because Putin has gone rogue, by breaking numerous international treaties when he invaded Ukraine.
**********
Russia signed no treaty allowing American globalists to use NGOs to fund coups against elected pro-Russian governments in the Ukraine.


11 posted on 07/27/2025 6:03:32 AM PDT by Socon-Econ (adi)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: rxh4n1

“You could start being good guys and give the stolen lands back to Germany.”

I agree! The Russians could start being good guys by giving Konigsberg back to Germany!


12 posted on 07/27/2025 6:06:41 AM PDT by MeganC (❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Cronos

Poland is being led by someone that loves his country..... not someone who wants to go to the best parties,snort the best cocaine and partake of the pleasures of young boys/girls....God Bless him and good luck... the devil’s crew is going to try to kill him.


13 posted on 07/27/2025 6:16:34 AM PDT by Dick Vomer ( (2 Timothy 4:7 "deo duce ferro comitantes" <p><b></B><P> <img src="">)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mewzilla

And, BTW, it’s still importing Russian coal

so, what? It is doing what it has to do to survive. Taking power from whatever is available.... what’s Poland supposed to do??.... drill for oil, depend on European coal...or lng or oil....


14 posted on 07/27/2025 6:18:09 AM PDT by Dick Vomer ( (2 Timothy 4:7 "deo duce ferro comitantes" <p><b></B><P> <img src="">)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Dick Vomer

Think-If Israel can set off pagers remotely why can’t land mines do the same without step-on triggers? It would be safer.


15 posted on 07/27/2025 7:24:23 AM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: DIRTYSECRET

Batteries and sattelite/tower signals would have to be maintained.


16 posted on 07/27/2025 7:25:21 AM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: rxh4n1

“You could start being good guys and give the stolen lands back to Germany.”

As Trump pulls out of Europe, European countries will FINALLY have to settle-up and settle-up QUICKLY, so that they can then work on their REAL THREAT, which is Islamic Migration (something Zeepers would rather not discuss, by the way).


17 posted on 07/27/2025 8:01:00 AM PDT by BobL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Dick Vomer

Poland is being led by someone that loves his country


You can’t possibly be describing Tusk.


18 posted on 07/27/2025 8:02:45 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: DIRTYSECRET

Also, the more Tech in a mine the easier it is to spot. No, use as little metal as possible.

Not using mines is asinine. Might as well outlaw artillery. Yeah, civilians are at risk. Uhh, so what? Never seen the effect of a WW2 German bomb dug up in London? They still go boom.

Not using mines is just like telling homeowners that they cannot shoot some arsehole breaking into their home.


19 posted on 07/27/2025 8:05:39 AM PDT by bobbo666
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Right_Wing_Madman
While you fantasize of Russian divisions sweeping across Europe, the real invasion of Europe is happening under your nose and you have no problem with it. Trump is right. Immigration is wrecking Europe. And history will prove Trump is right.

Detested Obama making stupid straw-man arguments, and its just as offensive in this case. Never mentioned "Russian divisions sweeping across Europe".

Neighbors of Russia have to be afraid of Putin deciding to seize part of their country, like Finland, or Estonia, Latvia, etc.

Yes, not assimilating migrants is an issue, so is border security from Russian invaders. Just ask Ukraine or Georgia.

20 posted on 07/27/2025 9:35:43 AM PDT by tlozo (“We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth,” Trump)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-25 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson